Coil forming and packaging

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for coiling an axially moving product length. The apparatus including a laying head operating to form the product length into a series of rings which are deposited on an underlying platform within an annular space defined by an inner cylindrical core element and an outer container structure. The core element is comprised of an inexpensive flexible material and is supported during coil formation by an expandable shaper located by means of a centering pin on the platform. The outer container structure is movable between an operative position surrounding the core element, and an inoperative position permitting lateral removal of the platform and a completed coil formed thereon beneath the laying head. The method encompasses the operation of the apparatus referred to above, and additionally includes a packaging operation, the initial step of which involves replacing the expandable shaper with a multi-sided brace, the corners of which bear against the inside of the core element. The outer surface of the coil is wrapped, again preferably with an inexpensive flexible material, and a plurality of retaining straps are applied to tie the entire package together. The location and number of retaining straps preferably coincides with the location and number of the corners of the multi-sided brace. The invention further encompasses the resulting packaged coil.

United States Patent 1191 Kinnicutt, Jr.

[ COIL FORMING AND PACKAGING [75] Inventor: Roger Kinnicutt, Jr.,Worcester,

Mass.

[73] Assignee: Morgan Construction Company,

Worcester, Mass.

22 Filed: July 2,1973

21 Appl. No.: 375,373

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 134,179,April 15, 1971,

Primary Examiner-Edward J. McCarthy Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Thompson,Birch, Gauthler & Samuels 1451 Jan. 21, 1975 [57] ABSTRACT A method andapparatus for coiling an axially moving product length. The apparatusincluding a laying head operating to form the product length into aseries of rings which are deposited on an underlying platform within anannular space defined by an inner cylindrical core element and an outercontainer structure. The core element is comprised of an inexpensiveflexible material and is supported during coil formation by anexpandable shaper located by means of a centering pin on the platform.The outer container structure is movable between an operative positionsurrounding the core element, and an inoperative position permittinglateral removal of the platform and a completed coil formed thereonbeneath the laying head.

The method encompasses the operation of the apparatus referred to above,and additionally includes a packaging operation, the initial step ofwhich involves replacing the expandable shaper with a multi-sided brace,the corners of which bear against the inside of the core element. Theouter surface of the coil is wrapped, again preferably with aninexpensive flexible material, and a plurality of retaining straps areapplied to tie the entire package together. The location and number ofretaining straps preferably coincides with the location and number ofthe corners of the multi-sided brace. The invention further encompassesthe resulting packaged coil.

PAIENIEU M21 sum 3 or e ATTORNEYS PATENTED JANE l 1375 SHEET- l 0F 6 MN5E ONP PATENTEU 2 I975 SHEET 6 OF 6 m' wwaaww ATTORNEYS COIL FORMING ANDPACKAGING DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 134,179 filed on Apr. 15, 1971, abandoned.

This invention relates to an apparatus for coiling an axially movingproduct length into an annular coil, to the method of forming theaforesaid coil and of packaging the same, and to the resulting packagedcoil. The invention is especially useful in the formation of large coilsof non-ferrous rod or bar, although it will be appreciated from thefollowing detailed description that other uses are also contemplated.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide animproved method and apparatus for forming and packaging large productcoils, such as for example coils of copper or aluminum rod beingproduced by a rolling mill. Another object of the invention is tosubstantially reduce the costs involved in packaging large productcoils. Cost reductions are achieved by providing a method and apparatuswhich may be operated by a minimum number of personnel, and also byemploying inexpensive readily available packaging materials. Stillanother object of the present invention is the provision of an improvedpackaged coil, which because of its inherent strength and stability, iseasier to handle and also is capable of being stored on its side, thuspermitting further space savings in transport carriers and storageareas.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent as the description proceeds with the aid of theaccompanying drawings wherein;

FIGS. 1A and 1B are sequentially arranged schematic views depicting anapparatus embodying the concepts of the present invention in sideelevation;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are plan views of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1A and1B;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the conveyor means and platform elevating meansat the coil forming station;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 44 ofFIG. la; and,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fully formed and packaged coil intransit on a conventional fork lift truck.

The description will now proceed with initial attention being focused onthe apparatus, after which the method and the resulting packaged coilwill be described in greater detail.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B, there is shown anapparatus which may, for convenience of description, be longitudinallysubdivided into a Pallet Preparation Station A, a Coil Forming StationB, and a Coil Packaging Station C. Station A is preferably suitablydimensioned to accommodate two pallets at locations (a and (11 A thirdpallet 10 is located at station B, and other pallets 10 are shownarranged along station C at locations (0 (c (c and (0 The pallets 10 areeach provided with a centrally located circular raised platform 11 and acentering means in the form of a vertically protruding shaft or pin 14.Spacer elements indicated typically at 16 are radially arranged aroundeach centering pin 14 on the upper surface 18 of each pallet. Beginningwith Station A at location (a a pallet 10 is shown being prepared foruse at station B during a coil forming operation. A flexible coreelement 20 is first positioned around centering pin 14. Due to itsinherent flexibility, it will be understood that without internal radialsupport, the core element will assume a relaxed non-cylindrical shapesuch as is typically shown in FIG. 2A, resting on the circular raisedplatform 11 of the pallet.

A portable assembly 21, the lower section of which comprises a shapingmeans 22 is employed to radially support and impart a cylindrical shapeto the core ele' ment 20. The shaping means 22 includes a centraltubular shaft 24 which supports a plurality of linkmounted coreexpanders 26. When the portable assembly 21 is suspended above the coreelement 20 as shown in FIG. 1A, the core expanders 26 are collapsedinwardly towards shaft 24. As the assembly is lowered, tubular shaft 24is axially inserted over centering pin 14. Eventually, the bottom edgesof the collapsed core expanders 26 contact the underlying palletplatform 11 and this in turn causes the expanders to spread radiallyoutwardly from shaft 24. When the portable assembly 21 is fully lowered,as shown at location (a the expanders 26 are fully extended, therebyradially contacting and imparting a cylindrical shape to the coreelement 20. It will be understood that a plurality of assem blies 2l,preferably at least three, are employed with the present invention.

At this point it should be mentioned that each pallet 10 is furtherprovided with a plurality of radially ar ranged stops 28 interspercedbetween the spacer elements 16. Each stop is preferably radiallyadjustable in relation to the pallet centering pin 14, and is furtherprovided at its outer end with a notch 30, the purpose of which-willpresently be described.

Each of the portable assemblies 21 further includes a core adaptergenerally indicated at 32. The core adapted consists of a generallycircular cage made up of tubular elements rigidly supported centrally bytubular shaft 24. Each tubular element has a vertical section 34 havingupper and lower ends 34a and 34b (shown at location (a,) in FIG. 1A).When the portable assembly 21 is fully lowered to its operativeposition, as shown at location (a the lower ends 34b of the tubularelements on the core adapter 32 rest on the upper edge 36 of the coreelement 20. When thus arranged, both the expanded core element 20 andthe adapter 32 have approximately the same outside diameter and ineffect, the core adapter provides a vertical extension of the coreelement.

The coil forming apparatus at station B includes a laying head assemblygenerally indicated at 38. The laying head assembly has a verticallydisposed rotatable tubular shaft 40 supported by bearings 42 carried ona support structure 44. Shaft 40 may be driven in any known conventionalmanner, as for example by one or more belts 46 extending between apulley 48 on the shaft 40 and another pulley 50 on the drive shaft of agear reducer 52, the latter being driven by a variable speed drive motor(not shown).

Although not shown in the accompanying drawings, it will be understoodthat suitable guide means are employed to direct the product to becoiled into the upper end 56a of a laying pipe 56 which is carried bythe shaft 40 for rotation therewith. The laying pipe extends downwardlyand axially through shaft 40 as at 56b before curving laterally andoutwardly through an opening 58 in the shaft. Thereafter, the layingpipe takes on a curved configuration as at 56c which extends in adescending somewhat circular path to an exit end d located as shown onthe drawings. The lower curved section 560 of the laying pipe issupported at a plurality of points by means of brackets 60 attached toan annular support plate 62 which is in turn secured by additionalbrackets 64 to the lower end of shaft 40.

As can be best seen in FIG. 4, shaft 40 is further provided at its lowerend with a depending shaft extension 66 which is held in place by meansof a keeper plate 68. A cylindrical hub 70 is journalled for rotation onshaft extension 66 by means of bearing assemblies 72a, 72b and 72c. Hub70 has secured thereto as by welding as at 74 an annular plate 76 whichin turn supports a cylindrical stripper drum 78. This constructionpermits the shaft 40 and the laying pipe 56 supported thereon to rotatefreely and independently of the drum 78 in the event that the latter isheld stationary by other means.

A roller conveyor 80 extends along the length of the apparatus. Thepallets are supported on the conveyor and are moved by any conventionalmeans (not shown) from station to station during operation of theapparatus. Thus, at the completion of each coil forming operation, aloaded pallet is pushed along conveyor 80 from station B to location(0,) at station C and the next prepared pallet is pushed from location(a at Station A to a location underlying the laying head at station B.At this point, with the pallet still supported on roller conveyor 80,there exists a clearance between the core adapter 32 and the stripperdrum 78. Elevating means generally indicated at 82 (see FIG. 3) areemployed to raise a pallet at the coil forming station B to the positionshown in FIGS. 1A and 4. The elevating means in cludes a plurality ofscrew jacks 84 which are interconnected by intermediate drive shafts anddriven by a common drive motor 86. Two of the screw jacks at oppositelydisposed corners of the pallet preferably are provided with conicalnoses 84a which impart a centering action to the pallet which the nosesenter vertical receiving passages 85. This in turn assures that thecentering pin 14 on the pallet is aligned axially with the rotationalaxis of the laying pipe 56 when the pallet is raised to its operativeposition as shown in the drawings. The screw jacks are operated to raisethe pallet until the upper ends 34a of the vertical sections 34 on thecore adapter 32 contact the lower edge of the stripper drum 78 as at 88.At this point, it should be observed that the stripper drum 78, coreadapter 32 and core element 20 each have approximately the same externaldiameter, thus cooperating to provide a substantially continuous guidesurface for the product rings being formed by the rotating laying pipe56 during the coil forming operation.

Following elevation of the pallet 10 to its operative position at thecoil forming station B, as is best shown in FIGS. 2A, and 4, meansshould preferably be provided to contain and define the outside diameterof the coil about to be formed. To this end, container means generallyindicated in FIGS. 2A and 4 at 90 are provided on opposite sides of theroller conveyor 80. In the embodiment herein disclosed, each containermeans is powered by a double acting cylinder assembly 92 which may beeither hydraulically or pneumatically actuated. The piston rod 94 ofeach cylinder assembly 90 is connected to a vertical container post 96.Other laterally located container posts 96 are likewise connected toeach of the piston rods 94 by linkage assemblies generally indicated at98. When the piston rods 94 are advanced to the position shown by solidlines in the drawings, the container posts 96 and 96 are arranged atcircumferentially spaced locations around and spaced radially from thecore element 20. When thus positioned, the bottom ends of the containerposts 96 and 96' are seated in the notches 30 of the stops 28 on thepallet 10. Thus, the stops 28 limit the inward radial movement of thecontainer posts 96 and 96'. By adjusting the radial positions of thestops 28 in relation to the center of the pallet, the wall thickness ofthe coil being formed may be varied by the adjustments whichcorrespondingly are made to the radial positions of the container posts96 and 96 during the operative positioning thereof. When the piston rods94 are retracted. the container posts 96 and 96' are automatically movedto the inoperative positions shown by dotted lines in FIG. 2A, thuspermitting lateral removal of the pallet 10 and a fully formed coilsupported thereon from beneath the laying head.

With the apparatus at the coil forming station 8 operatively arranged asshown in FIGS. IA, 2A and 4, the coil forming operation may beinitiated. This is accomplished by directing an axially moving productlength P, for example copper or aluminum bar, downwardly into therotating laying pipe 56. The rotating laying pipe forms the product intoa succession of rings which descend under the influence of gravity andaccumulate in coil form as at 99 on the spacer elements 16 of theunderlying pallet 10. The inner diameter of the coil thus formed isdefined by the radially expanded core element 20, and the outsidediameter of the coil is likewise governed by the operatively positionedcontainer posts 96 and 96'. The coil forming operation will continueuntil a given product length has been formed into a coil of appropriatesize and weight, at which point the container posts 96 and 96' will bereturned to their inoperative positions and the elevating means 82operated to drop the fully loaded pallet 10 back onto the rollerconveyor 80. Thereafter, the load pallet will be laterally removed alongroller conveyor to location (0 of the coil packaging station C andanother fresh pallet will be operatively positioned at the coil formingstation in preparation for the next successive coil forming operation.At location (0 a boom assembly generally indicated at 100 is employed toremove the portable assembly 21 from the completed coil. Boom assembly100 includes a horizontally extending arm 102 which is suitably mountedat one end as at 104 for pivotal movement about a vertical axis 106. Acylinder assembly 108 is mounted to the underside of arm 102. The pistonrod 110 of cylinder assembly 108 is attached as at 112 to a cable 114,the other end of which is provided with a hook or other suitable meansfor connection with a lifting eye 116 on the upper end of the tubularshaft 24 extending centrally through the portable assembly 21. Extensionof piston rod 110 will result in a lowering of assembly 21 andconversely retraction of the piston rod will produce a hoisting effect.After an assembly 21 has been hoisted out of a completed coil atlocation (0 boom assembly 100 is rotated about axis 106 to the positionshown in dotted at 100' in FIGS. 1A and 2A, at which point the sameassembly 21 will be lowered into another core element at location (a aspreviously described. The fully loaded pallet 10 at location (q) is nowready for movement along roller conveyor 80 through the remainder of thepackaging steps, a description of which will hereinafter be provided inconnection with an overall description of the method of the presentinvention.

The method of the present invention begins with the preparation of apallet at station A. This includes the removable mounting on the palletof an upstanding flexible core element 20 which is radially supportedand maintained in a cylindrical configuration by shaping means 22included as part of the portable assembly 21. When thus positioned andradially supported, the bottom edge of the core element 20 is verticallyspaced from the upper pallet surface 18 on the spacer elements 16.Preferably, the assembly 21 also includes a core adapted 32 which ismounted on the core element 20 to serve as a vertical extension thereof.A fully prepared pallet is shown at location (a prior to being movedalong roller conveyor 80 to the coil forming station.

The coil forming operation at station B has already been reviewed inconnection with the description of the apparatus. Likewise, thesubsequent removal of the portable assembly 21 from a completed coil ona pallet location at location (c has also been described. Once this hasbeen accomplished, the fully loaded pallet is moved further alongconveyor 80 to location (6 at which point a multi-sided brace generallyindicated at 118 is axially inserted into the coil. Preferably, brace118 is triangular in shape with three sides 1 18a meeting at threecorners 118b, the latter contacting and lending radial support to thecore element 20. While at location (0 the coil is also exteriorlywrapped with a flexible covering 120, for example heavy paper orcardboard. At this point it should be noted that exterior wrapping orcovering 120, the multi-sided brace 118 and the core element 20 eachhave a height which is somewhat less than the height of the completedcoil 99. Thus there remains an upwardly protruding portion of the coilshown generally at 99' (see location c in FIG. 1B). The pallet is nextmoved along conveyor 80 to location (0 at which point strapping machines121 conveniently located on either side of the path of coil movementalong conveyor 80 are employed to apply tensioned retainer straps 122 tothe coil at locations adjacent to the corners 118b of the brace 118.

The tension developed in the retainer straps 122 dur ing the strappingoperation axially compacts the coil to a height which is approximatelyequal to that of the flexible outer covering 120 and the interiorlylocated brace 118 and core element 20. Positioning of the straps aroundthe coil is of course facilitated by the fact that the coil is spacedvertically from the upper surface 118 of the pallet by the spacerelements 16, the latter being suitably grooved to accommodate insertionof the remaining straps across the underside of the coil. If desired,additional retaining straps 123 may be intersperced between the straps122 in order to further strengthen the overall package. Also, it may bedesirable to insert protective pads 124 between the retaining straps andthe top and bottom edges of the coil. Once the packaging operation hasbeen completed, the pallet is shifted to location (c.,), at which pointthe coil may be turned on its side and carried to another location byany suitable means, such as for example a conventional fork lift truck.The resulting package coil is shown in FIG. 5 supported during transiton the forks 126 of a conventional fork lift truck 128.

In light of the foregoing, it will be understood by those skilled in theart that modifications may be made to the apparatus and method withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, thenumber of stations along conveyor may be varied to accommodate a greateror lesser number of pallets. Likewise, the conveyor itself may bemodified, for example by changing the direction of pallet movement fromstation to station in order to permit the entire op eration to beperformed in a more confined space. Changes may be made to the pallets,it being however preferable to always provide a centering means on eachpallet in order to provide a central guide for the shaper means 22 whichforms a part of each portable assembly 21. Changes in the design andoperation may also be made to the container means employed to radiallycontain the coil during the coil forming operation. Again, however, itis preferable that any such container means be removable to aninoperative position permitting lateral removal of a pallet andcompleted coil from beneath the laying head 38.

As to the method employed to package a particula coil, it will beunderstood that the packaging steps herein described as beingsequentially performed at station 0 to 0 may if desired be performed ata single location to one side of the coil forming station B. These andother changes do not, however, materially depart from the invention asdescribed above.

Some of the more significant advantages to be drived from employing theinvention will now be briefly reviewed. it should be noted that eachcoil is formed around a disposable flexible core element which remainsin place both during the coil forming operation and thereafter duringthe packaging operation. The core element 20 is relatively inexpensive,yet it provides a covering which effectively avoids any possibility ofthe interior product rings being subsequently soiled, scratched orotherwise damaged. Each core element is radially supported by coreexpanders on one of several portable assemblies 21 which are axiallyretracted from the completed coil and replaced by a multi-sided brace118, the latter again being disposable and fabricated by ratherinexpensive material. After the coil forming operation and the insertionof the multi-sided brace, the coil is exteriorly wrapped, again withinexpensive flexible material such as for example heavy paper orcardboard, and finally the entire package is tied together by tensionedrestraining straps. The outer covering cooperates with the inner coreelement 20 to protect the major surfaces of the coil, and all of thepackaging elements are tied together in a manner which produces a stabledamage resistant package without significantly contributing to theoverall cost thereof. This is to be contrasted to more conventionalprior art techniques where coils have been formed in prefabricatedwooden crates which in addition to being expensive, must be repairedafter each use, and replaced after very limited use.

It will now be understood by those skilled in the art that the inventionis not limited in application to the handling of product emerging fromrolling mills, but in addition or alternatively may be employed in otherareas where elongated product lengths are to be coiled and packagedpreliminary to being subsequently transported and/or stored.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for coiling an axially moving product length comprising incombination: a laying means at a coil forming station, said laying meanshaving a rotating curved laying pipe through which the product length isdirected, the curvature of said laying pipe being such that the productlength passing therethrough is formed into a succession of productrings, said laying means being further provided with a cylindricaldepending skirt member which is located within the circular path definedby the rotating exit end of said laying pipe, said laying pipe beingrotatable independently of said skirt member; conveyor means spacedvertically beneath said laying means, said conveyor means extendinghorizontally from a preparation station on one side of said coil formingstation to a packaging station on the opposite side of said coil formingstation; platform means movable along said conveyor means, said platformmeans having a centering pin extending vertically therefrom, the saidpin being aligned axially with the rotational axis of said laying pipewhen said platform means is located beneath said laying means at saidcoil forming station; flexible core means surrounding said centeringpin; a removable assembly having a centrally located tubular memberaxially inserted over said centering pin, said assembly being furtherprovided with shaping means for radially imparting a cylindrical shapeto said core means; cylindrical adaptor means extending vertically fromthe upper edge of said core means, the vertical spacing between saidconveyor means and said laying means being such that there exists aspace between said adaptor means and said skirt member when saidplatform means is supported on said conveyor means; elevational means atsaid coil forming station for raising said platform means above saidconveyor means, thereby placing said adaptor means in contact with saidskirt member, whereupon during the coil forming operation, thesuccessive rings formed by said rotating laying pipe will descend in agenerally helical pattern to accumulate around said core means in coilform on said platform means; and container means for defining theoutside diameter of the coil thus being formed, said container meansincluding a plurality of vertical posts movable between operativepositions arranged circumferentially around and spaced radially fromsaid core means to inoperative positions permitting lateral removal ofsaid platform means along said conveyor means from said coil formingstation to said packaging station following completion of the coilforming operation and return of said platform means to a positionsupported on said conveyor means.

2. Apparatus for coiling a longitudinally moving product lengthcomprising: laying means spaced vertically above platform means, saidlaying means having a curved laying pipe for receiving the productlength, means for rotating said laying pipe to form the product lengthinto a succession of rings which descend under the influence of gravityto accumulate in coil form on said platform means, said laying meansbeing further provided with a circular guide member located within thecircular path travelled by the exit end of said rotatable laying pipe,and circular guide means extending vertically between and in removableengagement at its upper and lower ends respectively with said circularguide member and said platform means, the external diameters of saidguide member and said guide means being substantially equal, therebyproviding a continuous guide for the rings descending from said layingmeans towards said platform means, the said guide means servingadditionally as a circular core about which the rings accumulate on saidplatform means.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further characterized bycentering means fixed relative to and protruding vertically from saidplatform means, and means centrally located at the lower end of saidguide means for axially receiving said centering means.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the lower end of saidguide means includes a plurality of link-mounted elements which arenormally collapsed and which are radially expandable upon engagementwith said platform means. I

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further characterized by aflexible core element surrounding said link-mounted elements, the radialexpansion of said elements upon engagement with said platform meansbeing operative to impart a cylindrical shape to said core element.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further characterized by conveyormeans underlying and spaced vertically beneath said laying means, saidconveyor means being adapted to transport said platform means into andout of a position underlying said laying means.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the combined height ofsaid circular guide means and said platform means is less than thevertical distance be tween said laying means and said conveyor means,and wherein elevating means are provided for raising said platform meansabove said conveyor to place the upper end of said circular guide meansin engagement with said circular guide member.

8. Apparatus for coiling a longitudinally moving product length,comprising: laying means having a curved laying pipe for receiving theproduct length, means for rotating the laying pipe to form the productlength into a succession of rings which descend therefrom under theinfluence of gravity, said laying means being further provided with acircular guide member located within the circular path travelled by theexit end of said laying pipe; conveyor means spaced vertically beneathand extending horizontally in relation to said laying means; platformmeans movable along said conveyor means to a position underlying saidlaying means; circular guide means removably mounted on and extendingvertically from said platform means, the combined height of saidplatform means and said circular guide means being less than thevertical distance be tween said conveyor means and said laying means;and elevating means for raising said platform means above said conveyormeans to place the upper end of said circular guide means in engagementwith said circular guide member, the external diameters of said guidemember and said guide means being substantially equal, thereby providinga continuous guide for the rings descending from said laying means toaccumulate in coil form on said platform means.

1. Apparatus for coiling an axially moving product length comprising incombination: a laying means at a coil forming station, said laying meanshaving a rotating curved laying pipe through which the product length isdirected, the curvature of said laying pipe being such that the productlength passing therethrough is formed into a succession of productrings, said laying means being further provided with a cylindricaldepending skirt member which is located within the circular path definedby the rotating exit end of said laying pipe, said laying pipe beingrotatable independently of said skirt member; conveyor means spacedvertically beneath said laying means, said conveyor means extendinghorizonTally from a preparation station on one side of said coil formingstation to a packaging station on the opposite side of said coil formingstation; platform means movable along said conveyor means, said platformmeans having a centering pin extending vertically therefrom, the saidpin being aligned axially with the rotational axis of said laying pipewhen said platform means is located beneath said laying means at saidcoil forming station; flexible core means surrounding said centeringpin; a removable assembly having a centrally located tubular memberaxially inserted over said centering pin, said assembly being furtherprovided with shaping means for radially imparting a cylindrical shapeto said core means; cylindrical adaptor means extending vertically fromthe upper edge of said core means, the vertical spacing between saidconveyor means and said laying means being such that there exists aspace between said adaptor means and said skirt member when saidplatform means is supported on said conveyor means; elevational means atsaid coil forming station for raising said platform means above saidconveyor means, thereby placing said adaptor means in contact with saidskirt member, whereupon during the coil forming operation, thesuccessive rings formed by said rotating laying pipe will descend in agenerally helical pattern to accumulate around said core means in coilform on said platform means; and container means for defining theoutside diameter of the coil thus being formed, said container meansincluding a plurality of vertical posts movable between operativepositions arranged circumferentially around and spaced radially fromsaid core means to inoperative positions permitting lateral removal ofsaid platform means along said conveyor means from said coil formingstation to said packaging station following completion of the coilforming operation and return of said platform means to a positionsupported on said conveyor means.
 2. Apparatus for coiling alongitudinally moving product length comprising: laying means spacedvertically above platform means, said laying means having a curvedlaying pipe for receiving the product length, means for rotating saidlaying pipe to form the product length into a succession of rings whichdescend under the influence of gravity to accumulate in coil form onsaid platform means, said laying means being further provided with acircular guide member located within the circular path travelled by theexit end of said rotatable laying pipe, and circular guide meansextending vertically between and in removable engagement at its upperand lower ends respectively with said circular guide member and saidplatform means, the external diameters of said guide member and saidguide means being substantially equal, thereby providing a continuousguide for the rings descending from said laying means towards saidplatform means, the said guide means serving additionally as a circularcore about which the rings accumulate on said platform means.
 3. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 2 further characterized by centering meansfixed relative to and protruding vertically from said platform means,and means centrally located at the lower end of said guide means foraxially receiving said centering means.
 4. The apparatus as claimed inclaim 2 wherein the lower end of said guide means includes a pluralityof link-mounted elements which are normally collapsed and which areradially expandable upon engagement with said platform means.
 5. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 4 further characterized by a flexible coreelement surrounding said link-mounted elements, the radial expansion ofsaid elements upon engagement with said platform means being operativeto impart a cylindrical shape to said core element.
 6. The apparatus asclaimed in claim 2 further characterized by conveyor means underlyingand spaced vertically beneath said laying means, said conveyor meansbeing adapted to transport said platform means into and out of aposition underLying said laying means.
 7. The apparatus as claimed inclaim 6 wherein the combined height of said circular guide means andsaid platform means is less than the vertical distance between saidlaying means and said conveyor means, and wherein elevating means areprovided for raising said platform means above said conveyor to placethe upper end of said circular guide means in engagement with saidcircular guide member.
 8. Apparatus for coiling a longitudinally movingproduct length, comprising: laying means having a curved laying pipe forreceiving the product length, means for rotating the laying pipe to formthe product length into a succession of rings which descend therefromunder the influence of gravity, said laying means being further providedwith a circular guide member located within the circular path travelledby the exit end of said laying pipe; conveyor means spaced verticallybeneath and extending horizontally in relation to said laying means;platform means movable along said conveyor means to a positionunderlying said laying means; circular guide means removably mounted onand extending vertically from said platform means, the combined heightof said platform means and said circular guide means being less than thevertical distance between said conveyor means and said laying means; andelevating means for raising said platform means above said conveyormeans to place the upper end of said circular guide means in engagementwith said circular guide member, the external diameters of said guidemember and said guide means being substantially equal, thereby providinga continuous guide for the rings descending from said laying means toaccumulate in coil form on said platform means.